NHTSA Complaint #10779118 — 2009 HONDA ODYSSEY

IVTEC 3.5L ENGINE. TOURING MODEL. REAR ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE. ALUMINUM ENGINE MOUNT ATTACHMENT SHEARED. NO CAR DAMAGE HISTORY OR ABUSE. FAMILY CAR, DAILY DRIVING AROUND TOWN AND HIGHWAY. NOT SURE WHEN IT FAILED, BUT TOTAL MILEAGE IS 120,000 MILES. OWNED THIS CAR SINCE NEW. DEALER SAID THE PROTECTIVE BOOT HAD TORN, AND THE MOUNT NEEDED REPLACING. HONDA PART, $650, COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE. I BOUGHT A PART, AND REPLACED IT MYSELF, THAT IS WHEN I DISCOVERED THE PART HAD FAILED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, AND SAID ENGINE MOUNTS BREAK ALL THE TIME. ENGINE MOUNTS? A PRIMARY PART OF THE ENGINE STRUCTURE? SHOULD NEVER FAIL LIKE THIS. THE PART IS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER DESIGNED AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REINFORCED, MOST LIKELY REPLACE THE ALUMINUM WITH A STEEL PART. AGAIN, NOT SURE WHEN THE PART FAILED, COULD HAVE BEEN THAT WAY FROM THE FACTORY FOR ALL I KNOW. HAVE NEVER HIT ANYTHING OR BOTTOMED OUT THE CAR. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FAILED PART, IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A DEFECT, OR FATIGUE FAILURE, BUT AN OVERLOAD OF THE DESIGN. I AM AN ENGINEER AND AIRCRAFT MECHANIC. I CAN GIVE YOU THE FAILED PART IF YOU DESIRE.